Simply the best...

Yummy homemade jam at the Karma Lodge
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(Ronnie's lists) Happy New Year! Durban is a fantastic city even with rain for the first 2 days. I have compiled my lists for our travels in December 2006.

5 Most Memorable Cultural Experiences

1. Our night in the Xhosa Homestead with the young girls dancing and the elderly grandmother, the matriarch, singing
2.  My participation in the Incwala ceremony in Swaziland
3. The Malealea local choir and the band with their homemade instruments
4. Seing the Lesotho King at a local restaurant in Clarens, SA
5. My dance in Eshowe with the local "roughneck" man (he had a mullet) to Afrikaner rock music

Getting my groove on... Xhosa style!
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Best Outdoor Activities

1. The pony trek in Lesotho
2. The 2 1/2 day trek along the Wild Coast
3. Surviving the Golden Gate hike in SA

Best Hostels/Lodging

1. Sondzela Lodge, Swazi- the wildlife roaming outside our rondavel and the fantastic views from the swimming pool looking down on the valley
2. Malealea Lodge, Lesotho- amazing views of the surrounding mountains on the grounds of the lodge
3. Ku-Boboyi Lodge, Port Edwards- this place had everything going for it: a friendly, layed-back owner (Michael), surrounding greenery everywhere you looked, a swimming, quite room and a very cool dog
4. Roma Trading Post, Lesotho- clean, bright rooms in an old English type farm house
5. Sobuntu Guest House, Swazi- again very interesting and informative owners and probably the best views of all from our bedroom window

Nick's spot at Sondzela
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Top 5 Meals so far...

1. Beef fillet, fried potatoes and vegetables- Mantenga Lodge, Swazi
2. Spaghetti Dinner and Salad- Sobantu Guest Farm, Swazi
3. Warm Apple tart- Friends Restaurant, Clarens, SA
4. Jamie's steak fillet, mashed potatoes and vegetables- Sondzela, Swazi
5. Tie: Jams- Karma Lodge, Kestell and Spicy chicken pizza- Cinsta pub

Now the worst of....

The most scuzzy hostel: Legends, Swaziland

Children of the corn
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The worst bed: Clarens Inn, Clarens SA

The Noisiest hostel: Ampando, Port St. Johns, SA

The hostel with the strangest architecture: Kwa Rie, Dundee (sooo Flintsones), SA

The most damp room:  Bucaneer's Hostel, Cinsta SA

Grand Matriarch of the family and Nick
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The most dark room: Malealea Lodge, Lesotho

The place with the most bugs: Sondzela, Swaziland